Botanical Name: Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Louis Hamilton'
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Common Name: Louis Hamilton Desert Globemallow  
Plant photo of: Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Louis Hamilton'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Red

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Grey Green, Grey

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Fast, Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

English Cottage, Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Spring

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter, Walkways

 

Special Uses

Erosion Control, Mass Planting, Fire Resistant, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Mountain States Nursery

  • Description

  • Notes

'Louis Hamilton' is a selection of globe mallow with large, watermelon-red flowers in mid to late spring, and will sometimes bloom intermittently through the summer into the fall. This perennial will grow 4' x 3' . It has small, leathery gray leaves with rich, red-orange flowers that bloom in the spring. The foliage is thick, heavily textured, and grey-green. The plant forms an open, sort of sprawling clump, about 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Grow in full sun in well drained soil. Will grow in dry, poor, or rocky soil. Desert Globemallow can grow from 2 to 5 feet, depending on conditions. Thrives in hot dry sites. This extremely drought tolerant perennial does best in full sun, even in reflected heat. Like many desert natives, it prefers a gravel mulch. Hardy to -10 F.